News

St. Louis, Mo. (Thursday, January 15, 2009) – Newark Ironbound Express Soccer Club goalkeeper Neal Kitson is headed to the ranks of Major League Soccer, as the St. John’s University product was selected in the third round of the 2009 MLS SuperDraft by the Kansas City Wizards today. Kitson was taken 42nd overall by Kansas City in the St. Louis hosted draft, which also aired live on espn2.

Coming off an outstanding senior effort at St. John’s, Kitson was one of six goalkeepers that was invited to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, earlier this month for the 2009 adidas MLS Combine. In his senior campaign, the Little Neck, New York, native set a school record by recording 15 shutouts in his 24 starts of suiting up for the Red Storm. He was instrumental in leading the school to the NCAA College Cup for only the fourth time in the history of the Big East institution. His 0.48 goals against average was the second best in program history and was good enough for fifth in the country. He also had an outstanding .888 save percentage that placed him fourth in the nation, and he was additionally named to the All-Big East Third Team, NCAA College Cup All-Tournament Team while receiving 2008 Soccer America First Team All-MVP accolades.

Kitson started the NCAA season by going 745:26 before allowing a goal in a 3-1 victory over then-ranked #4 Connecticut. He was also named the Big East Goalkeeper of the Week and Big Apple Soccer Men’s Player of the Week on multiple occasions. He finished the year with a cumulative 19-3-2 record and 95 saves.

The Newark Ironbound Express completed their inaugural season in the USL Premier Development League last summer and are currently finalizing their 2009 schedule, which is slated to begin in May of this year. Stay tuned to the team website at www.ironboundexpresssc.com for all of the latest updates regarding the Ironbound Express.